UPDATE: The Daily Times reports...
“It’s not my goal to put people out of work, but at the same time people are going to be coming to work. I’m not an advocate that in politics it should go that way, but that’s the way it is.”
Linder acknowledged that the cuts can be seen as political, but said his administration did not do anything that previous regimes had not done.
Linder said some of the now-vacant positions will be consolidated while others will have replacements.
When taking office, Linder said the first 90 days would function as an assessment and transitional period. Linder said Friday that that should not have been interpreted as being a period without personnel changes.
There have been increases to the allotted salaries and wages in the offices of the mayor, solicitor, public safety director, parks and recreation director and the parks department. Together, those five line-item increases total $136,924 more than originally allotted.
When taking office, Linder said the first 90 days would function as an assessment and transitional period. Linder said Friday that that should not have been interpreted as being a period without personnel changes.
There have been increases to the allotted salaries and wages in the offices of the mayor, solicitor, public safety director, parks and recreation director and the parks department. Together, those five line-item increases total $136,924 more than originally allotted.
The budget proposal adds $203,987 to a professional services line item in the mayor’s office. Linder said that money will be used to pay the salary of his chief of staff, Ron Starr, and provide council members funding to hire potential consultants within their respective departments.
Auto allotments for council departments also were raised by $1,800 each.
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Folks that have been working hard for years are fired, what a horable thing to do. What a bad message this is sending.... I hope that they find work...
ReplyDeleteHE CLEANED HOUSE GOING TO BRING IN HIS OWN PEOPLE.... HOW ABOUT KIRKLAND YELLING AT A WOMEN TODAY TO SHUT UP. NOT VERY NICE. I HOPE THAT THE FACTS COME OUT AND WHY CLERICAL WORKERS WERE FIRED NOT RIGHT, SOME OF THOSE WOMEN HAVE BEEN THERE A LONG TIME AND I AM SURE THEY WERE WORKING TO RETIREMENT, NOW ALL IS LOST WHAT A CREAP.........
ReplyDeleteI hear 25 were fired on the spot and some major money moved around the budget. No wonder budget ammendments were so quickly approved on first reading at the city council meeting this afternoon before people knew what the changes were. Can't have public comments when you have nothing to comment on.
ReplyDeleteThe Daily Times says 10 to 12 people were cut. Is it 10, 12, or 25. Real people lost real jobs so what's the real number?
DeleteGreat job by John Kopp for getting those budget numbers. I sat right next to him during the city council meeting and walked away feeling stupid because none of those detail numbers were shared.
DeleteShouldn't the Mayor know exactly how many people were fired? Bet it's more than 10-12. Are there more firings to come?
DeleteI keep hearing the number was 25. Maybe the Mayor really doesn't know how many he fired.
DeleteI'd be surprised if he didn't know the actual number. Heard there was a memo that had all the names of people fired on it - all he had to do was count!
DeleteYou are so right!!!! WHY NOT EXPLAIN THE NUMBERS TO THE FINE PEOPLE OF CHESTER WHO VOTED FOR THEM!!!! WHO PAYS THOSE EXTREME SALARIES BUT WE THE PEOPLE!!!!!
DeleteNEW CHESTER;THEMOCRATS,THE MANNER IN WHICH THESE DISMISSALS OCCURED WERE COMPLETLY CLASSLESS,THRU ALL THE TURMOIL AND THRIVE THE COMMUNITY OF CHESTER IS GOING THRU,I AM NOT SAYING THEY WERENT DESERVED,JUST THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY WERE DONE,
ReplyDeleteWow, I am lost for words; I heard of "cleaning house" but WOW!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLet the stealing begin..... KIRKLAND NEEDS TO GO AND PEOPLE YOU GOT WHAT YOU WANTED NOW DEAL WITH IT....... AND THE REPBLUBICANS ARE NOT GOING TO HELP< AT THE STATE LEVEL AND AT COUNTY LEVEL....... THE GOOD DAYS ARE OVER....... NOW THE DEMS ARE IN CHARGE JUST LOOK WHAT IS HAPPING TO AMERICA......... YOU VOTED FOR IT CHESTER NOW DEAL WITH IT.........
ReplyDeleteNEW CHESTER WROTE;SEEKING PEOPLE OF CHESTER,WHO HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY,LEAVE MSG ON BLOG.
ReplyDeleteanonymous Very disappointed in the new reglme.Losing a lot of respect for Mayor Linder and The Democrats.Feel sorry for Deputy Mayor Nafis Nichols young bright man like that name being muddied up this fast in his tenure.smh
DeleteNEW CHESTER WROTE;THEY SAID CHANGE,-FAVORTISM + NEPITISM = MISMANAGMENT,THESE ACTIONS BY THE NEW ADM. WILL TRULY HELP BRING OUR COMM. TOGETHER,NOT JUST THE TERMINATIONS BUT ALSO THE APPOINTMENTS
ReplyDeleteSo they got rid of 10-12 people but at the same time they increase salaries in the budget by $136,924? Looks like some of their political friends are about to get paid! How's that "change" thing looking so far Chester?!
ReplyDeleteWHER IS THE NAACP WHEN YOU NEED THEM????? THATS RIGHT THERE GETTING PAID TO..........
ReplyDeleteYou'll find the president of the NAACP has been appointed to the CEDA board by our mayor. He must have proven that his experience is suited to giving out the big bucks.
DeleteI came to work and did my job everyday Mr. Linder how dare you lie and state people need to becoming to work. None of the people that were fired were fired for a reason they were fired because they were non union just like your letter states.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing you say to me is "today is your last day" the second thing was "i know that you have children, but you know how this works. Do you have a plan"? First of all the last time this happened, I was obtaining my BS from Penn State. Secondly, don't mention my kids because you didn't care about them when you signed my termination letter. My plan was to be evaluated on my credentials not what other regimes have done. Born and raised here, but on my way out. Four more classes until i receive my second BS in nursing, maybe I have too much education. Disgusted and disappointed.
ReplyDeleteLinder you stated when you were going campaigning you was going to be fair. You stated in the meeting on Wednesday that " if you do your job you will have your job". What happen to that? You also stated that you would allow department directors to make assessments of there departments. In eight days with no direction from my Director you came to the conclusion that you want to go in another direction. How did he evaluate me? Now I pick up the paper today and you state it's politics and it's been going on for a long time now. Wow never thought this from MR. NICE GUY.
ReplyDeleteHow do you also allow Summer in the city who lives in NJ a $50,000.00 job and she can't even tell me about our city she's an outsider at least Butler made Emily and her husband move into the city.
MAYOR BUTLER DID HAVE THEM MOVE TO THE CITY!!!!!!!! ALL THROUGH HER APPOINTMENT AT THE CITY.....
DeleteNEW CHESTER WROTE; I FEEL BAD FOR NAFIS NICHOLS,BECAUSE WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS,WE WILL HAVE LOST A VERY GOOD YOUNG MAN
ReplyDeleteWhen there is an election & the new regime takes over -- just like in a merger of a corporation...Changes take place in the staffing. That is just how business works. The people in charge want to run business with people they feel are on their team...Especially in politics. So, when we get these political jobs, or any job, we must always be alert to the possible changes that will occur. You would do the same thing if you were an elected official -- chose who you feel fits best in your organization.
ReplyDeleteTrue. You can make changes gracefully or you can slash and burn. It's a matter of style.
DeleteI understand your point but when you complain about the republicans only hiring republicans how can you then turn around and do the same thing. John stated several times that if you work you will have a job he also stated that his admin would assess everyone during transitation period. They called the cops and told all of them the leave you are no longer wanted i don't care how many years of experience or how many degrees you have.
DeleteEvery time a new coach comes in he does not always change his coaching staff. He keeps the people that do a good job. The last council and mayor had more time to prepare for their firing. My point to John you were once the big man at Village Charter history can repeat itself. Think about it.
Choosing a staff to help you run your political office is not a personal task or a favoritism task -- it should be based strictly on business. You can not be an advocate of change & expect things to stay the same. Yes, there were some great people in office, but there is now a changing of the guard & in politics...that sometimes means good people have to move on.
ReplyDeleteTrue. Good people moved on after good people got elected. The newly elected got rid of good people to replace them with good people. They could have been a tad more sensitive how they got rid of the old good people. Their tactics seem unnecessarily harsh to many observers and to those that were released.
Deletewhat happened to the christian in them. our city has to come together as a whole. stop letting outsiders telling us what we need. we have got to stop these young kids from killing each other.
DeleteUnfortunately, even large corporations get rid of good people in the same way even after making promises, it doesn't make it right, but that is just how it happens. That's why many people have learned 2 become entrepreneurs. I reiterate, I did not say it was fair, but it is how it is done.
ReplyDeleteCity hall isn't a corporation and to treat people like they were criminals with police escorts out of the building is classless! These are people with families and children and they deserve better. By admitting that the moves were political, is also is illegal!
DeleteCity government works under the same fair labor practices of any other business.
DeletePennsylvania is a right to work state. Unless you are under a contract, union or otherwise, you can be fired on the spot for wearing two left shoes and Issey Miyake cologne. They don't even need to give you a reason to fire you. You sign off on that fine print when you get hired.
If the mayor fired every top producer and replaced them with scrubs, that's his decision to make and it's not illegal.
City Hall IS an organization that has a payroll, bosses, hires & fires. Unfortunately, business can get away with this & have been doing this for years legally. They use escorts because they feel some employees may lash out when you are taking away THEIR livelihood it is devastating! That is why we should not put trust in man & learn 2 save & prepare.
ReplyDelete